Deuteronomy 21

The expiation of an uncertain murder.

Deuteronomy 21:1 Yf one be founde slayne in the land whiche the Lorde thy God geueth the to possesse it, and lieth in the feldes, and not knowne who hath slayne him: Deuteronomy 21:2 Then let thine elders and thy iudges come forth ad meet vnto the cities that are rounde aboute the slayne. Deuteronomy 21:3 And let the elders of that citie which is nexte vnto the slayne ma, take an heyffer that is not laboured with nor hath drawen in the iocke, Deuteronomy 21:4 and let them bringe her vnto a valeye where is nether earinge nor sowenge, ad strike of hir heed there in the valey. Deuteronomy 21:5 Then let the preastes the sonnes of Leui come forth (for the Lorde thy God hath chosen them to ministre and to blesse in the name off the Lorde and therfore at their mouthe shall all strife and plage be tryed). Deuteronomy 21:6 And all the elders of the citie that is nexte to the slayne man shall wasshe their handes ouer the heyffer that is beheded in the playne, Deuteronomy 21:7 and shall answere ad saye: oure handes haue not shed this bloude nether haue oure eyes sene it. Deuteronomy 21:8 Be mercifull Lord vnto thy people Israel which thou hast delyuered and put not innocent bloude vnto thy people Israel: and the bloude shalbe forgeuen the Deuteronomy 21:9 And so shalt thou put innocent bloud fro the, when thou shalt haue done that which is right in the syght of the Lorde.

The usage of a captive taken to wife.

Deuteronomy 21:10 When thou goest to warre agenst thyne enemies and the Lorde thy God hath delyuered them in to thine handes and thou hast take them captyue, Deuteronomy 21:11 and seist amonge the captyues a bewtifull woman and hast a fantasye vnto her that thou woldest haue her to thy wyfe. Deuteronomy 21:12 Then bringe her home to thine housse and let her shaue hir heed and pare hir nayles Deuteronomy 21:13 ad put hir rayment that she was taken in from hir, and let hir remayne in thine housse and bewepe hir father and hir mother a moneth long and after that goo in vnto her ad marie her ad let her be thi wife. Deuteronomy 21:14 And yf thou haue no fauoure vnto her, then let her go whother she lusteth: for thou mayst not sell her for monye nor make cheuesauce of her, because thou hast hubled her.

The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection.

Deuteronomy 21:15 Yf a man haue two wyues, one loued and another hated, and they haue borne him children, both the loued and also the hated. Deuteronomy 21:16 Yf the firstborne be the sonne of the hated: then whe he dealeth his goodes amonge his childern, he maye not make the sonne of the beloued firstborne before the sonne of the hated whiche is in deade the firstborne: Deuteronomy 21:17 But he shall knowe the sonne off the hated for his firstborne, that he geue hym dowble off all that he hath. For he is the first off his strength, and to him belongeth the right of the firstborneshippe.

A stubborn son is to be stoned to death.

Deuteronomy 21:18 Yf any man haue a sonne that is stuburne, and disobedient, that he will not herken vnto the voyce of his father and voyce of his mother, and they haue taught him nurture, but he wolde not herken vnto them: Deuteronomy 21:19 Then let his father and his mother take him and brynge hym out vnto the elders of that citie and vnto the gate of that same place, Deuteronomy 21:20 ad saye vnto the elders of the citie. This oure sonne is stoburne and disobedient and will not herken vnto oure voyce, he is a ryoter and a dronkarde. Deuteronomy 21:21 Then let all the men of that citie stone him with stones vnto deeth. And so thou shalt put euell awaye from the, and all Israel shall heare and feare.

The malefactor must not hang all night of a tree.

Deuteronomy 21:22 Yf a man haue commytted a trespace worthy of deeth and is put to deeth for it and hanged on tree: Deuteronomy 21:23 let not his body remayne all nyghte vppon the tree, but burye hym the same daye. For the curse off God is on him that is hanged. Defile not thy londe therfore, whiche the Lorde thy God geueth the to enherett.